northington



May 5, 1931. N. J. NORTHINGTON MANIPULATING ATTACHM ENT FOR THE LENSFOCUSING MECHANISM OF MOVING PICTURE PROJECTING MACHINES Filed Oct. 2.1928 INVENTOR ZVbi-f'leet J fl orihiryion ATTORNEY gWITgSSES PatentedMay 5, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORFLEET .1. non'rnmo'rbn, or$1. ALBANS, :NEW YORK nannumrmo amnonmnnr roa THE LENS roousmo imcnmsuor novme 1 v rrcrunn rnomc'rme macnnms Application filed October 2,1928. Serial No. 809,841.

This invention relates to a manipulating device for the lens focusingmechanism of moving picture projecting machines, the same being in thenature of an attachment which is especially applicable to the Simplexprojector.

Up to the present time the lens focusing mechanism has been actuated bydirect manipulation of a knurled head on the vertical shaft of a pinionwhich engages a rack connected to the lens. In addition to the fact thata precise or .accurate adjustment is diificult to obtain, the knurledhead which is disposed at a point or a position at the left side of theprojector, is' diflicult for the operator to reach from his station onthe right side of the machine.

Inorder, therefore, to overcome the above recited difficulties anddisadvantages, the present invention comprehends a manipulatingattachment by virtue of which a more precise and accurate adjustment maybe obtained and which, in addition, disposes the manipulating head at apoint convenient to t 5 the operators station.

The invention further comprehends a manipulating attachment of thecharacter set forth which is extremely simple in its construction,inexpensive to manufacture, highly efiicient in'its purpose and whichmay be readily installed on the'machine without material alterationthereto.

With the above recited and other objects in view, reference is had tothe following description and accompanying drawings, in

which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of the invention,while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawings: 4o Figure 1 is a rear end view of the lens housing withthe attachment applied. Figure 2 is a side view thereof. Figure 3 is aplan view illustrating a slightly modified adaptation of the inven- 45.tion.

Referrin to the drawings bv characters of reference,v designates thelens housing, B

the lens, C the lens adjusting rack, D the pinion, and E the pinionshaft which extends 59 vertically upward through the upper wall of thelens housing. Ordinarily, a knurled head is secured to the upper end ofthe pinion shaft E for direct manipulation of the pinion to accomplishthe forward and rearward pinion shaft E consists of a bracket arm 5which is formed with an apertured extremity 6 adapted to be positionedover the upper end of the pinion shaft E after the usual knurledmanipulating head had been removed. The bracket arm 5 is provided withupstanding bearing gears 7 and 8 in which a manipulator'shaft 9 isjournaled for rotation. A worm gear 10 is keyed to the pinion shaft Eand is designed to mesh with a worm wheel 11 keyed to the manipulatorshaft 9. The bracket arm 5 is further provided with a forwardlyprojecting horizontal lug 12 which is secured by a screw 13 to the upperwall of the lens housing A. The ri ht end of the manipulator shaft 9 hassecure thereto a knurled manipulating head 14, and in view of the factthat the bracket arm extends from the pinion shaft E toward the right,it is obvious that the knurled head 14 is disposed within convenientreach of the operators station at the right hand side of the projectingmachine. The worm pinion and wheel connection permits of a micrometeradjustment of the lens B so that a precise and accurate focusing may beobtained.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in FigureB, thebracket bar 15 is of a length to extend beyond the medial a rtured lug16 through which the pinion she '13 projects, and in this instance themanipulator shaft 17 is lengthened so that its 0 posite ends extendthrough upstanding end aring cars 18 and 19 in addition to a medialbearing ear 20. Knurled heads 21 and 22 are secured to the opposite endsof the manipulator shaft, and the worm gear 23 meshes with a worm gear24 keyed to the intermediate portion cf;

the manipulator shaft. Under this construction, it is obvious that themicrometer adjustment of the lens may be accomphshe by manipulation ofeither of the heads 21 or 22.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a moving picture projectingmachine havinga lens focusing mechanism including a rat: a pinion and anupwardly extending pinion shaft projecting through the lens housing, ofa manipulating attachment therefor comprising a bracket arrangedtransversely upon the housing having a horizontally disposed aperturedportion through which the projecting end of the pinion shaft extends, aworm gear secured to 4 the end of said pinion shaft, a manipulator shaftjournaled in bearings in the bracket, a worm wheel secured to saidmanipulator shaft and meshing with the worm gear and a manipulator headat the end of the manipulator shaft.

2. The combination with a moving picture projecting machine having alens focusing mechanism including a rack, a pinion and anupwardly'extending pinion shaft projecting through the lens housing, ofa manipulating attachment therefor comprisin a bracket arrangedtransversel upon the ousing'having a horizontall tion through which theprojecting end 0 the pinion shaft extends, a worm gear secured to theend of said pinion shaft, a manipulator shaft journ'aled in bearin inthe bracket, a

. worm wheel secured to sai manipulator shaft and meshing with the wormgear and a manipulator head at the end of the manipulator shaft, saidbracket having a horizontall disposed lug adapted to receivetherethro'ug a fastening element for anchorage inthe lens housill lg. Y

Y ORFLEET J. NORTHINGTON.

sposed' apertured fpor-

